title: Assessment of infant feeding practices at a tertiary care hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the practice and knowledge of mothers regarding breast feeding, complimentary feeding, and to find out socio-economic correlates of feeding practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional survey conducted at paediatric department of Liaquat University Hospital (LUH) from Jan-Dec 2008. During that period 500 mothers with children less than 24 months were included. Infant feeding patterns were assessed in relation to recommendations and household socio-economic factors by an Interview Technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 500 mothers, 8.4% started exclusive breast feeding (EBF) while Pre-lacteal use was seen in 31.6%. Regarding the duration 52.2% mothers continued breast feeding for 2 years. Median duration of EBF was 3.5 months. It was seen that 60% of the 0-5 month-old infants breastfed 8 or more times per day. However, exclusiveness of breast feeding decreased from 60% at (0-2 months) to 40% (3-5 months). Majority 64.2% were poor and 61.5% had no education. There is a statistically significant difference in feeding practices of educated and uneducated (P < 0.0001) and also in poor and middle class mothers (P < 0.0003). Regarding, age of their last born babies, 180 babies were under 6 months, and 320 were 6 to 23 months of age. The knowledge about complimentary feeding (CF) was inadequate. Around 21% of 2-3 months old babies received complementary food and 19% of 6-8 month-olds were only breastfed. In 78% mothers CF was advised by family members while in 23% mothers by doctors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exclusive breastfeeding was not maintained upto recommended age of 6 months. Knowledge about CF was lacking in the mothers. Regarding, mothers' education and socioeconomic conditions, a positive correlation was noted with feeding practices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric, LUMHS Jamshoro, Hyderabad.
authors.forename: Shazia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.forename: Salma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shaikh
authors.forename: Tasneem
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kousar
authors.forename: Yasmeen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.lastname: Rubina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010154:Pakistan; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult